Optical scanning system and method capable of receiving inputs from a user

1. An optical scanning system for receiving inputs from a user, comprising: a data storage device; an imaging sensor configured to receive light and to define digital data based on said light; a data manager configured to store said digital data into said data storage device; a housing unit coupled to said imaging sensor; a member detachably coupled to said housing unit, said member having a surface exposed to said imaging sensor; a movable device disposed between said imaging sensor and said surface; and an image analyzer configured to receive a set of digital data produced by said imaging sensor, said set of digital data defining an image of said movable device, said image analyzer further configured to analyze said set of digital data and to identify a character based on a position of said movable device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said movable device is coupled to said member and is movable across said surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said surface includes at least one mark and wherein said image analyzer is configured to analyze an image of said at least one mark and to identify a group of characters based on said at least one mark, said image analyzer further configured to select said character from said group of characters.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said image analyzer is further configured to determine a value corresponding to a distance between said movable device and a reference and to identify said character based on said value.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said reference is a mark on said surface of said member.

6. An optical scanning system for receiving inputs from a user, comprising: a data storage device; an imaging sensor configured to receive light and to define digital data based on said light; a data manager configured to store said digital data into said data storage device; a housing unit coupled to said imaging sensor; a movable device attached to said housing unit; and an image analyzer configured to receive a set of digital data produced by said imaging sensor, said set of digital data defining an image of said movable device, said image analyzer further configured to analyze said set of digital data and to identify a character based on a position of said movable device as defined by said set of digital data.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said image analyzer, in identifying said character, is further configured to determine a value corresponding to a distance between said movable device and a reference.

8. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a member coupled to said movable device and detachably coupled to said housing unit, wherein said movable device is attached to said housing unit via said member.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said image analyzer is further configured to determine a value corresponding to a distance between a reference and said movable device and to identify said character based on said value.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said member includes a surface having at least one mark displayed thereon and wherein said image analyzer is further configured to identify a set of characters based on said at least one mark and to select said character from said set of characters.

11. An optical scanning system for receiving inputs from a user, comprising: a movable device; means for scanning a document, said scanning means producing data defining an image of said movable device; and means for analyzing said data to determine a position of said movable device and to select a character based on said position.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising: a housing unit for housing said producing means and said analyzing means; and a member coupled to said housing unit, said movable device disposed between said member and said scanning means, said member having a mark visible on a surface of said member, wherein said analyzing means determines a value corresponding to a distance between said mark and said movable device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said member has at least one mark visible on said surface of said member and wherein said analyzing means selects a set of characters based on said at least one mark and selects said character from said set of characters.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said movable device is coupled to said member and is movable across said surface of said member.

15. An optical scanning method for receiving inputs from a user, comprising the steps of: providing a scanning device, said scanning device having an imaging sensor; receiving an image of a document via said imaging sensor; defining said image in data; positioning an indicator such that said indicator is visible to said imaging sensor; receiving an image of said indicator via said imaging sensor; defining said image of said indicator in data; analyzing said data of said image of said indicator; determining a position of said indicator based on said analyzing step; and identifying a character based on said determining step.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: providing a member; coupling said member to said scanning device such that a surface of said member is visible to said imaging sensor; identifying a reference on said surface; and determining a value corresponding to a distance between said reference and said indicator.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: providing a member; coupling said member to said scanning device such that a surface of said member is visible to said imaging sensor; identifying at least one mark on said surface; selecting a set of characters based on said at least one mark; and performing said identifying step based on said selecting step.